Bathlift device



Jan. 19, 1965 J. E. NOLAN 3,166,282

BATHLIFT DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I. I

INVENTOR John E. Nolan m'iwjw A'ITORN EY Jan. 19, 1965 J. E. NOLAN 3,166,282

BATHLIFT DEVICE Filed Feb. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John E. Nolan I04 ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to an improved liftingand lowering device which among its other uses is particularly well-- adapted for lowering and raising stout, handicapped and elderly people and is particularly useful in entering and leaving a bathtub, and in hydrotherapy treatments either assisted by or unassisted by an attendant.

Due to physical disabilities of various types, it is often difficult or impossible for a person to enter and leave a bathtub or other similar facilities unaided. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device for assisting persons in and out of baths, bathtub-s, and similar facilities which is of a simple design and easy to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting and lowering device which may be easily and readily placed in and removed from conventional bathtubs.

Still another object is to provide a'bathlift device which does not require any structure connection to the bathtub.

Yet another object is to provide an improved lifting and lowering device which is of simple design, portable and of light weight construction.

A further objectis to provide a bathlift which may be operated by the user or an attendant from a domestic water supply.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

FIGURE l -is a perspective view of my bathlift positioned in a tub in a raised position.

FIGURE 2 is a side View of an alternative embodiment of my bathlift in an intermediate position.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a further alternate embodiment of my bathtub lift in a raised position.

The apparatus of the present invention consists of a suitably shaped chair having a seat portion 12 and a back portion 14 for assisting a person to lower and elevate his person into and out of a bathtub. The seat 10 isattached to a carrier 16 and both the seat 18 and the carrier 16 are supported for up and down movement and for swivel movement relative to the support cylinder 40 to permit a person to enter and leave a bathtub in a manner which, requires a minimum of effort. The apparatus which supports the seat 10 and carrier 16 consists of a cylinder assembly 18 supported in a generally upright position by a base 20.

The base 20 has support feet 22, 24, 26, 28, extending outwardly from the center portion 30 of the base 20 having approximately the width of a bathtub to give maximum support. The ends of the support feet 22, 24, 26, 28, are provided with plastic or rubber caps 32, 34, 36, 38, which contact the bottom of the bathtub to prevent the support feet 22, 24, 26, 28, from sliding in the bathtub and from scoring or otherwise damaging the bathtub.

The length of the feet and their spacing from one another are such that the base 20 may be able to rest on the bottom of any ordinary bathtub. The legs are also arranged to support the device over a wide area to prevent it from tipping over within the tub when someone is sitting on the seat 10.

The base 20 supports the cylinder assembly 18 which may extend perpendicular to the base 20 or preferably at some angle other than 90 degrees such as shown in FIG- URE 1. Internally, the cylinder 40 operates with a piston which is movable in the cylinder 40 to raise and lower the seat 10 while externally the cylinder 40 serves as a guide and support for the seat 10 as it moves up and down or swivels.

The cylinder assembly 18 may be rotatably secured to the central portion 30 of the base 20 by any suitable I means such as a bracket 39, which may be in the form of a pin and which is rotatable within the central portion 30 of the base 29.

The cylinder assembly 18 comprises a cylinder 40 having end caps 44 and 46 suitably secured to each axial end of the cylinder 40 for enclosing the cylinder ends. The cylinder caps 44, 46, may be detachably connected to the cylinder 40 by suitable means such as a threaded connection. The lower cap 46 is connected to the bracket 39 while the bracket 39 is held to the base 20 as previously described.

The upper cylinder cap 44 has a central opening for a piston rod 48 which extends into the cylinder 40. The opening also serves as a guide for the piston rod 48 as it slides in and out of the cylinder 40. The piston rod 48 carries a suitable piston (not shown) on one end which cooperates with the cylinder 40 to form means for developing the necessary force for raising, supporting and lowering the seat 10.

The other end of the piston rod 48 carries an M shaped bracket 50 which has two arms 52, 54, extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod 48. Each end of the two arms 52, 54 is connected to rods 56 and 58 respectively which extend downwardly and parallel to the cylinder 40. The lower ends of the rods 56, 58 terminate below the upper end of the cylinder 40 and are secured to the seat carrier 16 which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 40.

The carrier 16 consists of two members 60, 62 which may be joined on one end and which straddle the cylinder 40 in a generally transverse direction. Two ends of the members 60, 62 may be joined by an integral cross member 64 or the two ends may be secured to a sepa rate cross member by conventional means. The other two ends of the members 60, 62 extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 40 to form a support for the seat 10.

The seat 10 is secured to the members 60, 62 by suitable means such as for example by providing the bottom of the seat 10 with threaded studs 66 (only one shown) which are received in suitable holes in the bracket members 68 extending from the sides of the members 60, 62. The studs 66 are held to the bracket 68 by nuts threaded on the studs 66. Any other suitable means or method could also be used for securing the seat to the carriage arms 66 and 62.

In order to guide and support the members 60, 62 and the seat 10 as they move up and down, a pair of guide rollers 70, 72, rotatably carried between the two members 60 and 62 are provided. The rollers 70, 72 have a curvilinear surface which engage the outside surface of the cylinder 48 to provide rolling contact between the rollers 7 0, 72 and the cylinder 40. Instead of rollers 70 and 72, any other suitable structure could be used in lieu thereof, such as sliding shoes.

The curved surface of the rollers 70, 72 may be such that a longitudinal cross section passing through the axis of one of the rollers will define two opposed arcs of a circle having substantially the same diameter as the outer surface of the cylinder 48. Such rollers will provide a continuous line contact between the cylinder 40 and the rollers 70, 72 thereby distributing the rolling contact be- If desired, a suitable bearing may be provided in the friernbersMLdZ-to reduce the friction between the rotating shafts 74, '76, and the members 60, 62. Alternatively,

the shafts 74, 76 maybe secured against rotation within the openings of the members as, 62 while the rollers '79, 72 "rotate around the shaft 74, 76 in which case suitable bearings may be provided between the shafts 7d, 76 and In the. embodiment shown the distance between the two rollers 7t 72 is greater than the diameter of the cylinder at) plus the smallest radius of both rollers, such that the two rollers contact the cylinder when the plane containing the axes 6f rotation of both rollers 7d, 72 is at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder jl-(l. Consequently, the two members 60, 62 which support the seat it) and rollers 7h, 72 will extend at'an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 4a. However, the, members 66, 62 and the seat M will still be parallel to the bottom of the bathtub if the angle between the cylinder 40 and the carrier 16 is equal to the acute angle between the cylinder 4% and the base 29. If another angular arrangement is used a similar adjustment may be made in the carriage or seat support'to impart the inclination desired to the seat.

I Because of the acute angle between the carrier 16 and the cylinder 4%, the center of gravity of the person sitting in the seat it) will be directed to a more centralized location of the base 26) thereby stabilizing the base 2%. Also because of the acute angle between the carrier 16 and the cylinder 40, the weight of aperson in the seat lib will insure solid contact between the cylinder 4t) and the rollers 70, 72 since the carrier 16 will tend to pivot about the ends of the rods 56, 58 to thereby seat the rollers 7t), 72 solidly against the sides of the cylinder 4h.

It will be noted that the carrier 16 may rotate about the cylinder '40 "since the concave rollers 7h, 72 may slide around the cylinder ill. However, it is preferable that the cylinder assembly rotate about the swivel connection between the cylinder assembly 18 and base 20 as previously explained. Any rotatable movement of the carrier 16 about the cylinder 4% may be prevented by providing guideways on the cylinder 18 for receiving the rods 56 and 58. v

Inorder to raise and lower the seat 10, means are proyided for conducting afluid under pressure to the area beneath the piston. This means consists of an inlet connection W to the bottom or" the cylinder 49. Conduit meansstl, such as arubber or plastic hose, is connected to theinlet connection @5 6 by suitable means such as a slipfjoint connection 82 or a threaded connection such as commonly used on a garden hose.

. Fluid under pressure is admitted to the lower portion of the cylinder 46 to raise the piston and thereby raise the piston rod 43, the rods'e, 58, the carrier 16, and the :seat 10. 'As the carrier 16 rises, the rollers 70, 72 will rotate on the cylinder 40 to guide the carrier 16. An opening 83 is provided in the top cylinder cap 44, to exhaust'air from the cylinder it) as the piston rises in the cylinder 40 fand'to prevent a vacuum from forming in the upper portion of the cylinder 40 as the piston dejscends in the cylinder.

I .The cylinder' ltl and piston aredesigned to produce fsuflicient force to raise aperson sitting in the seat 10 when the cylinder'inlet 96 is connected to a domestic water supply such as the faucet of a bathtub or other suitable source. In order to provide means for controlling the raising and lowering of the piston in the cylinder '49, a two-way valve may be connected to the bathtub faucet and to the hose 8% leading to the cylinder inlet 90;

The'two-way valve 84 as shown in FIGURE 2 is connected to operate an alternate embodiment of the bathlift device which is similar to FIGURE 1 except that an offset cantilever mounting is provided between the cylinder assembly 13 and the base it The control valve 84 may be located in any suitable location such as on'the faucet $5, on the carrier 16 or to bracket 5%.

.ln FlGURE 2 the valve 54 is connectedto the faucet and to the hose itland has a discharge opening 86 directed to the inside of the tub. Thevalve'M has a handle 83 wh ch may be placedin either one of two positions. in one position the valve 84 will direct the water from the faucet to the hose 8% to raise the piston while in the other position the valve 84- will shut off the faucet water supply to the valve 84 and direct the water from the hose 8% to the discharge opening 86 to discharge the water into the tub and thereby-lower the piston.

, A new supply of fresh water is used to raise the piston each time while the water used'feach time is discharged into the bathtub. The valve 84 may have suitable markings labeled. Up and Down. The hose (it? may be secured to the valve 84 by a simple disconnect joint to facilitate the securing and removing of the hose 3%) from the valve 84 or if desired, the valve 84 may have a simple disconnect joint with the faucet for the same reason It will be appreciated that the device may be operated without the valve 34. If thehose 8b is connected directly to the faucet, the opening of the faucet valve will cause the seat to rise. In such a case the seat may be lowered by means which will be described later. o 1

In order to provide for accidental disconnection or breakage of the hose 86, which could cause the seat to descend when the seat it) is in an elevated position, a check valve 78 may be provided at'the inlet connection 9t? if desired. The check valve 78 (see FIGURE 1) will 7 permit water to enter the cylinder it but will prevent it from leaving unless it is opened manually. A remotely controlled device (not shown) may be provided to open the check valve '78 such as a Wire control rod enclosed within a flexible casing. In this way, the check valve 78 may be opened by the person sitting in the seat it or by an attendant without reaching down into the bottom of the bathtub.

Also in cases where a two way valve 34 isnot used on the faucet, the lowering of the seat 10 may be controlled by opening the check valve 73 which may discharge the water from the cylinder 40 directly into the tub without first passing through the hose 8t).

The operation of the bathtub lift device is as follows: The device is first placed in the rearwardportion of the bathtub and the hose St) is connected to aconvenient faucet. The water is then turned on'either by turning on the faucet or the two-Way valve 84 (shown in FIG URE 2) to admit water to the bottom of thecylinder 4th. The water entering the cylinder 40 will'raise the piston which in turn raises the piston 'rod 48, arms'52, 54, carrier 16, and the seat 10. The seat "1b is then manually swiveled degrees so that the front of the seat lit? will face one side of the bathtub; In this position, a; person caneasily seat himself in the seat. The seat it? is then manually swiveled either by an attendant or the person sitting in the seat to a position facing the forward portion of the bathtub. The seat 10 is thenldwered by moving the two-way valve 84 to a Down position and opening the check valve 78 (if such a check valve is provided) by the remote control device, or if a two way valve 34 is not used, merely by opening the check valve 78. The weight of the person in the seat 'will force the water out of the cylinder. After the person has completed bathing, the seat 1h may be raised and swiveled to the side of the tub as previously described.

in order that the two way valve 84 may be located adjacent} to the seat 10, where it can be conveniently FIGURE 3 shows another alternate embodiment simi-- lar to FIG. 2 in that there is an oiiset pivotal mounting between the cylinder assembly and the base but which diifers from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the carrier arms thereof are formed with a bend as will be described. As shown in FIG; 3 the cylinder assembly 18 is designed to be pivoted around an axis removed from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. Inthis embodiment, the lower cylinder end cap 102 carries a bracket 104 which has a cylindrical opening designed to receive a pin 1% extending vertically from the base 168. i The cylindrical opening and the pin ltidform a bearing about which the cylinder 110 may pivot. It will be appreciated that a sleeve type bearing or roller type bearing may be provided at this pivot connection if desired.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the carrier members" 112 (only one shown), are formed with a bend which serve to carry the seat 116, lower than the portion of the carrier members adjacent to the cylinder 110. This will permit the seat 116 to sit lower in the tub when it is in its lowered position. In this embodiment, a pair of connecting members 118 (only one shown), on either side of the cylinder 110 serve to support the shafts 122, 124

of the concave rollers 126, 128. The carrier members 112, are secured to the connecting members 118, by suitable connecting means such as the threaded screws 130.

In order to make the device portable and light weight so that it can be easily lifted by one person, all structural parts may be made of aluminum. The seat 10, 116 may be made of suitable plastic such as polypropylene or molded fiber glass which is of relatively light weight and which also presents a smooth stain proof surface. The rollers 70, 72, 126, 128 may also be made of plastic.

While I have shown and described an operating device much wherein the chair is attached to the piston rod for activation, this arrangement could be reversed and the chair attached to the cylinder which would move up and down on a piston. In this case, fluid would be admitted in between the top of the piston head and one end of the cylinder.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable lift device, the combination comprising, a base, a guide structure means for pivotally supporting said guide structure on said base, a carriage on said guide structure, power means associated and pivotal with said guide structure for raising said carriage as the carriage is guided on said guide structure, means external of said guide structure between the guide structure and carriage providing rolling contact for the carriage on the guide structure as the carriage is raised by said power means.

2. A portable lift device, the combination comprising a base, a guide structure, means on said base for pivotally supporting said guide structure relative to said base, a carriage cooperatively associated with said guide structure and extending generally laterally thereof, and power means associated with and pivotal with said guide structure for raising said carriage, said power means comprising means external of said guide structure between the guide structure and the carriage guiding the latter as it is raised on the guide structure by said power means.

3. A portable lift device, the combination comprising a base, a guide structure, means on said base for rotatably supporting said guide structure on said base, a carriage 6 cooperatively associated with said guide structure "and extending generally laterally thereof, and power means associated and rotatable with said guide structure for raising said power piston in the cylinder, a carriage supported on said cylinder for rolling contact along the outside longitudinal surface of said cylinder, and an operative connection between said carriage and said power piston for raising and lowering said carriage as the carriage rolls on the outside surface of the cylinder.

5. In a portable bathtub lift device, the combination comprising, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod extending from said cylinder, a seat, connecting means between said piston rod and said seat for raising and lowering the seat as the piston moves in said cylinder, and means carried by said connecting means providing movable contact with the outside of said cylinder for guiding the connecting means on the outside of the cylinder as the seat is raised and lowered.

6. A portable device for assisting a person in and out of a bathtub, comprising a base adapted to rest upon the bottom of and within said tub, support means, means for pivotally supporting said support means on said base, a seat, an operative connection between said seat and said support means, and power means associated and pivotal with said support means for moving said operative connection on said support means to raise and lower the seat, said operative connection providing rolling contact with the support means as the seat is raised and lowered.

7. A bathtub lift device comprising a base, a cylinder supported in a generally upright position by said base, a power piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said power piston, a member carried by said piston rod having a pair of rods extending adjacent to and parallel to said cylinder, a seat support carried by said rods, said seat support having two arms which straddle the cylinder and extend in a general direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, a seat on said seat support, and a pair of rollers rotatably supported between said arms and straddling said cylinder for guiding said seat support on said cylinder with rolling contact as the seat support is moved up and down by said power piston.

8. A lift for incapacitated individuals comprising a base, a hydraulic cylinder extending upwardly from said base, a piston movable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston, 21 pair of rods actuated by said piston, said rods extending parallel to said cylinder, a carriage connected to said pair of rods and having guide means tracking on the outside said cylinder to maintain said carriage free from tilting movement in at least one direction, and a seat connected to said carriage for supporting an incapacitated person when raising and lowering said person.

9. A portable lift device comprising a base, a bracket rotatably supported on said base, a guide structure, means on said bracket for supporting said guide structure such that the guide structure is pivotal through an are having a center of radius which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the rotatably supported bracket, a carriage on said guide structure, and power means operatively connected to said carriage and pivotal with said guide structure for raising and lowering said carriage as the carriage is guided on said guide structure.

10. A portable lift device comprising a base, a bracket rotatably supported on said base, a guide structure, means on said bracket radially removed from the axis of rotation of the bracket for supporting said guide structure such that the guide structure may be pivoted about a center which is coincident with the axis of rotation of said bracket, a carriage movably mounted on said guide structure, and power means operatively connected to said carriage and pivotal with said guide structure for raising and lowering said carriage as the carriage is guided on said guide structure.

11. A portable lift device comprising a base, a guide weight applied to the carriage by a person sitting thereon will tend to "pivot said arms about an axis intermediate said rollers to thereby urge the rollers towards said guide structure.

12. A portable lift device comprising a base, a guide structure supported on said base, a carriage, rollers on opposite sides of the guide structure supported by said carriage', power means associated with said guide structure, and means operativcly connecting said power means to said carriage at a position intermediate said rollers such that the weight applied to the carriage by a person sitting thereon will tend to pivot said carriage about an axis intermediate said rollers to thereby urge said rollers toward said guide structure.

13. Ap'ortable bathtub lift device, comprising a base adapted to rest on the bottom of and within a bathtub, a generally upright guide structure supported by said base and extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the general plane of the base, a carriage having a seat thereon, support means for movably supporting said car.

riage on said guide structure such that the general plane of the carriage extends at an acute angle relative to the upright guide structure, said support means comprising members movably contacting said guide structure such that said carriage is guided on said guide structure as it is moved relative to said guide structure between raised and lowered positions, power means cooperating with said guide structure for moving said carriage between said raised and lowered positions, and connecting means connecting said power means to said support means, said connecting means being connected to said support means at a position intermediate said memberssuch that the weight applied to said carriage by a person sitting in the seat thereon will tend to exert a pivoting force about an axis intermediate said members so that the members'on either side of the guide structure will be urged toward said guide structure to provide positive movable supporting contact therebetween.

14. A portable bathtub lift device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said members are rollers rotatably supported about axes disposed in a plane which extends at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said upright guide structure.

l5.A portable bathtub lift device comprising a base adapted to rest on'the bottom of and within a bathtub, a generally upright guide structure supported by said base and extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the general plane of the base, a carriage having a seat thereon, support means for movably supporting said carriage on said guide structure, such that the general plane of the carriage extends at an acute angle relative to the upright guide structure, said support means comprising rollers 'rotatably supported about axes which are disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the generally upright guide structure, power means cooperating with said guide structure for moving said carriage between a raised position and a lowered position, and connecting means for connecting said power means to said support means at a position intermediate said rollers such that the weight applied to said carriage by a person sitting in the seat'ther'eon will 7 structure will be urged toward said guide structure to Z provide positive rolling contact therebetween.

1 16. A portable bathtub lift device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said'guide structure is of a cylindrical configuration and said rollers havearcuate faces conforming generally to the cylindricalconfiguration of said guide structure such that thefrollers contact the guide leans along a lineof Contact defined by share of a circle.

l7. A portable bathtub lift device comprising a base adapted to rest on the bottom of a bathtub, a generally upright guide structure supported by said base, a carriage having a seat thereon, said carriage comprising support means for movably supporting said carriage externally of said guide structure and generally forward thereof, and power means cooperating with said guide structure and having a power operated member structurally connected to said carriage for'moving said carriage and seat between a raised position and a lowered position as the carriage is guided externally of said guide structure, said carriage in said raised position being displaced-from said lowered position in a horizontal direction such that in the raised position a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the person in the seat is further removed from the forward potential tipping mi s of the base than is the case when the carriage is in saidlowered position thereby lessening the tendency of the bathtub lift device to topple forward by the weight of a person sitting in the seat for higher raised positions of the carriage.

18. A portable bathtub lift device comprising a base adapted to rest on the bottom of a bathtub, a generally upright guide structure supported by said base and extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the general plane of the base, a carriage having a seat thereon, said carriage comprising support means for movably supporting said carriage externally of said guide structure and generally forwardly thereof such that the general plane of the carriage extends at an acute angle relative to the upright guide structure, and power means cooperating with said guide structure and having a power operated member structurally connected to said carriage for moving said carriage between a raised position and'a lowered position as the carriage is guided externally of said guide structure, said carriage in said raised position being displaced from said lowered position in a horizontal direction such that in the raised position a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the person in the seat is further removed from the forward potential tipping axis of the base thanis the case when the carriage is in said lowered position thereby lessening the tendency of the bathtub lift device to topple forward by the 'weight of a person sitting in the seat for higher raised positions of the carriage.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,349 7/89. Hepburn i. 248-404 X 2,187,283 1/40 Scheutz 4-185 X 2,604,636 7/52 Nielsen 4-l85 2,686,557 8/54 Karlsson 4-l85 X 2,702,677 2/55 Replogle 297 345 X 2,779,949 2/57 Crispen 4-485 CLAUDE A. LE nor, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PORTABLE LIFT DEVICE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A BASE, A GUIDE STRUCTURE MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID GUIDE STRUCTURE ON SAID BASE, A CARRIAGE ON SAID GUIDE STRUCTURE, POWER MEANS ASSOCIATED AND PIVOTAL WITH SAID GUIDE STRUCTURE FOR RAISING SAID CARRIAGE AS THE CARRIAGE IS GUIDED ON SAID GUIDE STRUCTURE, MEANS EXTERNAL OF SAID GUIDE STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE GUIDE STRUCTURE AND CARRIAGE PROVIDING ROLLING CONTACT FOR THE CARRIAGE ON THE GUIDE STRUCTURE AS THE CARRIAGE IS RAISED BY SAID POWER MEANS. 